[1] The Ladson were large plantation owners and wealthy merchants in Charleston, and owned hundreds of slaves until slavery was abolished in 1865.

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who lived under the name Rose Ladson in her 20s, is a descendant of the family through her American great-grandmother.

The family is descended from John Ladson (died 1698), a Quaker[2] from Brigstock in England; he emigrated to Barbados and then in 1679 to the newly established Charles Town (Charleston) in Carolina where he acquired land.

When he moved to Charles Town John Ladson brought with him a single black slave from Barbados, 21-year old Sara.

Judith's first cousin Elizabeth Wragg was married to Peter Manigault, the wealthiest man in the British North American colonies by the 1770s.